Although the reporting relationship of the speechwriters shifted between the Communications office and the External (Public) Affairs office, the papers of John Nevin and Gleaves Whitney have been gathered together here in the Communications Division series for ease of reference, and for continuity's sake. Throughout their employment, they served as speechwriters and so their papers have a unity based on function in support of that work. The papers of Rusty Hills, however, will be found in both the Communications and the Public Affairs Division Series, because he served as the Director of Communications for Engler's first term, and then as Director of the newly repurposed Director of Public Affairs for the second term.

The Communications Division series has been arranged into the following subseries: Press releases; News clips; John Nevin files; Gleaves Whitney files; John Truscott files; Speeches, Videotapes; and Sound Recordings.

Press Releases 1991-2002 [subseries]
(6.2 linear feet)

The first subseries, "Press Releases," contains a nearly complete run of releases for Engler's tenure, except for the period Aug. 1, 1994-Oct. 4, 1994, when the governor was campaigning for a second term. The researcher should consult the "Campaigns" series for press releases for this period.

Box 65

January 1, 1991-March 31, 1993
(28 folders)

Box 66

April 1, 1993-June 30, 1994
(19 folders)

Box 67

[Missing material]

(August 1, 1994-October 4, 1994 missing from this series.)

Box 67

October 5, 1994-September 30, 1996
(27 folders)

Box 68

October 1, 1996-March 31, 1998
(25 folders)

Box 69

April 1, 1998-November 30, 1999
(27 folders)

Box 70

December 1, 1999-April 30, 2002
(30 folders)

Box 71

May 1, 2002-December 31, 2002
(8 folders)

News Clips 1991-2002 [subseries]
(4 linear feet)

Box 71

Engler, John 1990-1995
(33 folders)

Box 72

Engler, Michelle 1991-1995

Box 72

Engler, John, January 1996-April 1997
(16 folders)

Box 73

Engler, John May 1997-March 1999
(23 folders)

Box 74

Engler, John April 1999-May 2001
(24 folders)

(Engler clips for Jun.-November 2001 were not received)

Box 74

Engler, John December 2001-March 2002
(4 folders)

Box 75

Engler, John April 2002-December 2002

Speechwriter John Nevin 1991-2002 [subseries]
(10.3 linear feet)

The John Nevin subseries consist of background files relating to the development of speeches and messages to be given by Governor Engler. Some of these files contain Engler's handwritten editions of the speechwriter's proposed text. For the actual text of the speeches as delivered, with Engler's personal notes, see the "Speeches" subseries of the Communications Division.

Box 75

Year in Review 1997

Box 75

Year in Review 1998

Box 75

Abortion 1990 Campaign, 1990 1990

Box 75

Abraham, Spencer/Ideas for Op-Ed 1992

Box 75

Accomplishments Department Reports 1993

Box 75

Agriculture and Natural Resources Week 1991

Box 75

Alexander, Lamar/Speech in MI before Governor and Mrs. Engler 1991

Box 75

Anti-Engler press release/Michigan Ecumenical Forum 1991

Box 75

Appointments by county 1991

Box 75

Aquatic nuisance species 1998

Box 75

Automobile Theft Prevention Authority Annual Report 1997

Box 75

Automobile's 100th Anniversary 1996

Box 75

Automotive Pollution Prevention Project Progress Report II 1995

Box 75

Battle Creek Enquirer Editorial Board 1998

Box 75

Benson, Tom, Midwest Living Article 1991

Box 75

Block Grants: The Key to the New(t) Federalism, by Richard P. Nathan 1995

Box 75

Brownfield redevelopment 1998

Box 75

Budget/Department Reduction plans 1992

Box 75

Budget Speech 1993

Box 75

Build Michigan II Press Packet 1997

Box 75

Campaign Materials 1994

Box 75

Cawthorne, Dennis 1997

Box 75

Census info 1995

Box 75

Chairman's Report -- Republican Governors' Association 1996

Box 75

"The Change of Politics in Michigan or 'The Strange 100th' by John Engler 1970

Box 75

Charity Softball game 1992

Box 75

Charter School 1996-1999

Box 75

Charter Schools (Central Michigan University) 1996

Box 75

Charter Schools/Clinton Letter 1997

Box 75

ChildNet 1992

Box 76

Childrens' Commission 1996

Box 76

China 1997

Box 76

China-Most Favored Nation Status 1997

Box 76

Christmas Poem 1989-1997

Box 76

Chrysler, Dick 1996

Box 76

Citizens Property Tax Report 1987

Box 76

Civic Renewal Movement undated

Box 76

Civil Rights Blueprint 1993

Box 76

Civil Service Employee Suggestion Awards Program 1992

Box 76

Clean Air Act 1995-1996

Box 76

Clean Michigan Initiative 1998

Box 76

Clergy Summit Directory 1995

Box 76

Clinton/Education 1997

Box 76

Clinton/Negative 1996

Box 76

Clinton vs. Dole 1996

Box 76

Coca-Cola (Empowering Pastors) 1995

Box 76

Coca-Cola Torch Presentation 1996

Box 76

College Savings Bonds 1994-1997

Box 76

Come Home to Michigan 1996

Box 76

Commerce, Dept. of 1992

Box 76

Community Service Awards 1996

Box 76

Community Service Commission 1996

Box 76

Community Service Conference 1997

Box 76

Computer Training for Executive Office Staff 1992

Box 76

Consensus Revenue Estimate 1995

Box 76

Conservative Political Action Conference 1996

Box 76

Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFÉ) 1991-1992
(4 folders)

Box 76

Council on Competitiveness 1997

Box 76

County, FY 1989-90 Estimated State Tax Spending and State Tax Collections by 1991

Box 76

Creating Excellence in Government (Federalism in the Late 20th Century) 1994

Box 76

Crime/Number of Bills Signed 1997

Box 76

Crime Statistics 1990

Box 76

Crime Statistics 1997

Box 76

Criminal Justice Package 1994

Box 76

Criminal Justice Reform Agenda 1997

Box 76

Cusack, Martin 1996

Box 76

Cut and Cap Property Taxes 1992

Box 76

Defined contributions 1996

Box 76

Department of Management and Budget Transmittal Letter 1997

Box 76

Department of Mental Health (DMH)/Dodak Lawsuit/Lafayette Clinic 1992

Box 76

DMH Violence Prevention Paper 1994

Box 76

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Accomplishments 1994

Box 76

DNR Reorganization undated

Box 76

Detroit 1993-1997

Box 76

Detroit College of Law 1998

Box 76

Detroit/DNR Park concept 1994

Box 76

Detroit Economic Club Speech 1994-1996

Box 76

Detroit/Environmental Policy 1995

Box 76

Detroit Free Press re: Negative Engler Reporting 1991

Box 76

Detroit/Money from State 1995-1996

Box 76

Detroit/Renaissance Zones 1995

Box 76

Detroit Report 1998

Box 76

Development of Platform for 1998 Election, 1994-1998 1994-1998
(1 folder)

Notes from the Governor to Speechwriters (cont.) 1991-1999
(6 folders)

Box 82

Notes from Tracey Mehan (Office of the Great Lakes)

Box 82

Nunn, Jon 1995

(Michigan's National Republican Committeeman, roast)

Box 82

Oakland Community College 1997

Box 82

Olmstead, David 1997

Box 82

Ontario 1996

Box 82

Op Eds 1991

Box 82

Open Door 1991
(2 folders)

Box 82

Organization for International Investment 1995

Box 82

Our Kids Deserve Better 1993

Box 82

Owen Poll 1997

Box 82

Partnership for New Education, 1991

(Includes by-laws)

Box 82

Patterson, Brooks 1992

Box 82

Pero, Colleen/Letter to the Editor of State News 1996

Box 82

Pero, Dan undated

(Chief of Staff)

Box 82

Peterson, Peter/Economic Outlook 1993

Box 82

Petoskey-Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce 1991

Box 82

Policy and Procedures/Communications Division 1991

Box 82

Pork Barrel Awards 1989-1990

Box 82

Pollution prevention 1995

Box 82

Prayer Breakfast 1996

Box 82

Press clip survey of state departments undated

Box 82

Prison Litigation Reform 1996

Box 82

Privatization 1992

Box 82

Privatization info 1994

Box 82

Pro-Life Candidate Material 1993

Box 82

Proposal A Success 1995

Box 82

Public Relations Association of Michigan (PRAM)/Nevin Speech on Insults 1995

Box 82

Public School Academies 1996

Box 82

Quotations 1996

Box 82

Raciot: Lincoln Day Dinner 1993

Box 82

Reapportionment 1991

Box 82

Redevelopment of Detroit Plan, G. Wolfram 1993

Box 82

Reducing the Size and Cost of Government/Evergreen Freedom Foundation 1996

Box 82

Relative Environmental Risk Material/Upper Peninsula 1992

Box 82

Renaissance Plan 1995

Box 82

Renaissance Zones 1996-1998

Republican Governors' Association (RGA)

Box 82

Book 1996

Box 82

Economic Summit 1996

Box 82

Innovative Solutions for America (Michigan on p. 31)

Box 82

New Hampshire candidate Ovide Lamontagne 1996

Box 82

News 1996-1997

Box 82

Pfizer report 1997

Box 82

Republican Ideas in Action 1996

Box 82

Summit participant biographies 1996

Box 82

Talking points on Clinton Budget 1993

Box 83

Republican National Convention (RNC)

Box 83

Democratic Welfare Reform Plan 1995

Box 83

Detroit 1997

Box 83

Education Segment background 1996

Box 83

Info 1996

Box 83

Scripts 1996

Box 83

Speech Drafts 1996

Box 83

Republican Platform 1996

Box 83

Republican State Convention 1996

Box 83

Restoring Entrepreneurial Michigan 1992

Box 83

Reuss, Lloyd 1995

(Executive Dean of Focus Hope)

Box 83

Revenue sharing 1997

Box 83

Revenue sharing and road funding, ca. 1997

Box 83

Revitalization of Animal Agriculture in Michigan undated

Box 83

Reynolds, Nanette/Speech ideas 1994

Box 83

Riegle, Don 1992

Box 83

Right-to-Life 1998-2002

Box 83

Right-to-Life ads 1996

Box 83

Right-to-Life (Henry Hyde) 1987, 1991

Box 83

Roads 1998

Box 83

Romney, George

Box 83

Romney, George/Historic Newspaper Issues 1962-1995

Box 83

Romney, George/State of the State Speeches 1963-1969

Box 83

Romney, George/Volunteer undated

Box 83

Ryan prisoner escapes report 1994

Box 83

Sainte Anne de Detroit 1999

Box 83

Salvation Army 1992

Box 83

Schaub, Emilia 1991

Box 83

School Choice 1999

Box 83

School Choice/Friedman Foundation 1997

Box 83

School Funding 1997

Box 83

Secchia Commission 1994

Box 83

Secchia Commission Report 1995

Box 83

Second Inaugural Address 1995

Box 83

Senior Staff Retreat 2001

Box 83

Service Delivery Area (SDA) Target GA's 1991

Box 83

Shadow Cabinet 1996

(Bob Dole)

Box 83

Single Business Tax 1995-1997

Box 83

Social Services, Department of (Michigan) 1992

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

Box 83

Ozone Reduction Plan 1994

Box 83

Transportation Improvement Plan 1997

Box 83

Speech Assignments 1999-2000

Box 83

Speech ideas, quips 1995

Box 83

Spoils system rough draft undated

Box 83

Staffing the Governor 1994

Box 83

State Assistance for Water 1991

Box 83

State Cabinets breakdown (minorities) undated

Box 83

State of the Judiciary 1997

Box 83

State of the State 1991-1992, 1996
(6 folders)

Box 84

State of the State 1997

Box 84

Accomplishments

Box 84

Adoption

Box 84

Balanced Budget Amendments

Box 84

Black Veterans

Box 84

Budget

Box 84

Cabinet

Box 84

Drafts
(2 folders)

Box 84

Ideas

Box 84

Monroe

Box 84

National Resources Stewardship

Box 84

Notes

Box 84

Other States State of the State

Box 84

State of the State 1997

Box 84

Taxes/Jobs

Box 84

Technology

Box 84

Transportation

Box 84

Welfare/Children

Box 84

State of the State 1998-1999, 2001
(4 folders)

Box 84

State of the Union 1991

Box 84

Stephens, Ret. Col. William J. undated

Box 84

Summit Agenda 1997

(President's Summit for America's Future)

Box 84

Sylvan "Results '97" Conference background material 1997

Box 84

Talking points 1995, undated
(2 folders)

Box 84

Task Force on the Acquisitions of Contractual Personal Services 1991

Box 84

Tax cut information 1996

Box 84

Tax Freedom Day 1996

Box 84

Tax policy 1996

Tax Research Analysis Center (TRAC)

Box 84

The 1993 Michigan Fiscal Reforms, 1997 1993-1997

Box 84

School Vouchers 1997

(Annotated by Engler)

Box 84

Timber Producers Association 1991

Box 84

Tobacco 1994

Box 84

To Strengthen Michigan Families 1995

Box 84

Transportation/Federal funding 1997

Box 84

Travel Bureau 1991

Box 84

Tribal tax 2002

Box 84

Trucks/Weight limits 1998

Box 84

Unfunded federal mandates 1994

Box 84

United Way/Benton Harbor 1997

Box 84

University of Michigan Breakfast 1997

Box 84

Urban agenda 1993-1995

Box 84

Urban initiative 1998

Box 84

Urban strategy 1995

Box 84

Veto messages 1992

Box 85

Victory '96 Plan undated

Box 85

Victory line 1992

Box 85

Vital Speeches 1991

Box 85

Volunteer Summit 1997
(2 folders)

Box 85

Washington Times Letter/Douglas Roberts 1997

Box 85

Welfare 1991

Box 85

Welfare (Anti-Clinton) 1996

Box 85

Welfare Reform 1994-1996
(2 folders)

Box 85

Welfare Reform/Chronology 1997

Box 85

Welfare Reform/To Strengthen Michigan's Families

Box 85

Western Michigan University Commencement 1991

(Engler received honorary degree.)

Box 85

Wetlands 1991

Box 85

White House 1991-1992
(5 folders)

(Copies of President Bush's speeches)

Box 85

White House/America 2000 Education Strategy, 1991 1991-2000

Box 85

White House/Rhetoric 1991

Box 85

Whitewater: Talking Points 1994

Box 85

Williamsburg Resolve 1994

(Republican Governors' Association)

Box 85

Winter Cities Forum, Marquette 1997

Box 85

Women for Dole information 1996

Box 85

Woodworth, Patti 1991

Box 85

Work First 1994

(Welfare Reform)

Box 85

Workforce 1994

Box 85

Workforce Development 1997

Box 85

Worker Right to Know Act 1996

Newspapers and Magazines 1970-2002 [subseries]
(0.5 linear feet)

The fourth subseries, "Newspapers and Magazines," holds articles either by or about Engler, including several magazines which feature him on the cover. In 1996, Engler was considered a strong candidate for Robert Dole's running mate, and the articles in the national press that year discuss his viability as a candidate.

The files of Gleaves Whitney consist of topical and other files documenting his various activities as a speechwriter, administrative historian, and Engler biographer. The "Topical files," though transferred to the Bentley Library under Whitney's name, appear to have been originally created by Engler's first Communications Director, Rusty Hills, and then inherited and augmented by Whitney. These files relate to the development of Engler's public message. Within topical, the "Affirmative Action" file contains a memo which formulates language for replies to constituents who contact the Governor's office regarding the University of Michigan's affirmative action suits. The "All Departments" file contains the suggestions of the Directors of State Departments about "the most important thing the federal government can do to help your department" in anticipation of Bob Dole's election as president. The eight "Engler, John" files demonstrate the molding of Engler's public image. Memos describing the expected political impact of the School Choice/Vouchers referendum on the 2000 presidential election, in the "School of Choice" and "Vouchers" files are valuable because sharing a ballot with the referendum was seen as being an important reason why George W. Bush failed to carry Michigan in the 2000 election.

Whitney's "Speeches" files contain his research and drafts of speeches. They are in chronological order. For the text of speeches as revised by Engler himself, see the "Speeches" subseries of the Communications Division series described below.

The "Authorized History" files were files created in support of Whitney's book John Engler: The Man, the Leader, the Legacy. These files are a microcosm of the entire Engler collection, and a researcher can get a quick tour of the highlights of the Engler administration by beginning his or her research here. There is original material here, which Whitney gathered from other parts of the collection. For example, there are the original drafts for the State of the State for 1992. There are also newspaper clippings, bumper stickers, and correspondence. The "Bibliography" file includes a bibliography of Engler's written works as well as citations from Whitney's book.

Topical files 1991-2001
(12.5 linear feet)

Box 86

10th Amendment 1996

Box 86

501(c)4 1996

Box 86

Abortion 1973-2000
(4 folders)

Box 86

Abraham, Spencer 1995-2000

(US Senator)

Box 86

Abstinence 1995-1997

Box 86

Accomplishments 1991
(2 folders)

Box 86

Accomplishments 1995

Box 86

Accomplishments 1996

Box 86

Acton Institute 1999

Box 86

ADAPT 1995

Box 86

Adopt-a-Leader, Michigan Prayer Network 1995-1997

Box 86

Adoption 1995-1999

Box 86

Adoption Commission 1991

Box 86

Adult Education 1996
(2 folders)

Box 86

Advance checklist undated

Box 86

Affirmative Action 1995-1997

Box 86

African American Black Issues 1999

Box 86

Aging Commission 1996-1997

Box 86

Alcohol Abuse 1998

Box 86

Alexander, Lamar 1994-1996

Box 86

All Departments 1996

Box 86

Allen Report, ca. 1996

("A New Framework for Public Education in Michigan: A Report Submitted to the Michigan Department of Education Fulfilling the Requirements of Grant #95-SBE," William B. Allen)

The "Speeches" subseries contains Engler's speeches, as given with his original annotations. They are arranged chronologically. Most of the more important speeches, including all of the State of the State addresses, have been captured on videotape and may be found in the "Video Tapes" subseries of the Communications Division records.